How to Ride Questions:

Where does AATA go?
AATA buses can take you practically anywhere you want to go in the Ann Arbor - Ypsilanti area, including Meijer, Wal-Mart, and Briarwood Mall. For more information, check the Routes & schedules section of this site or call 734.996.0400 to talk to an information specialist.

How much does a ride cost?
Each one-way trip on TheRide costs $1.00. 30-Day unlimited ride passes and tokens are also available for your convenience. Reduced fares are available for individuals who are income-eligible, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Check the Fares section of this site for more information.

Do I need exact change to ride AATA?
Yes. AATA drivers do not give change. Bills, tokens or coins are accepted.

When can I ride?
Hours of service are generally 6 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. However, some routes begin or end service slightly outside of these time windows, so check the Routes & schedules section of this site for more detailed information.

What if I need to make a trip when the buses are not in service?
Use AATA's Night Ride! Night Ride is a shared-ride taxi service (within the Ann Arbor city limits) which operates when fixed-route bus service is not available. Hours of operation are 11:00pm - 6:00am Monday - Friday and 7:00pm - 7:30am on Saturday & Sunday. Rides are $5.00 per person, $2.50 per person with an AATA issued ADA or Senior card. Call 734.528.5432 to request a trip…more detailed information is available in the Night Ride section of this site.

Can I transfer between buses?
Yes…transfers are free. If you need a transfer, please ask the driver when you board. Transfers are valid for 90 minutes from time issued. A transfer may not be used for a return trip on the same route (with the exception of one-directional routes).

Where do I board AATA buses?
AATA will stop to pick up or drop off passengers only at designated AATA bus stop signs. More than 1500 bus stops are located at convenient intervals along the routes. Passenger shelters and benches are located at many major bus stops.

What if I get lost or accidentally take the wrong bus?
Just ask a friendly AATA driver for help. Most routes originate at AATA's two transit centers: Blake Transit Center in downtown Ann Arbor and the Ypsilanti Transit Center in downtown Ypsilanti. You can transfer to the correct bus at these locations.

Can I bring my bike on the bus?
Absolutely! All AATA buses are equipped with bicycle racks that can accommodate two bicycles. The racks are simple to operate, and bikes ride free. Check the Bike the ride section of this site for more information.

Can I take AATA to home football games?
AATA provides shuttle service for all University of Michigan home football games from over 20 hotel and parking lots in Ann Arbor. Call 734.973.6500 for shuttle information or visit the Football Ride section of this site.

Can I ride AATA if I have an injury or a disability?
All AATA buses are low-floor vehicles. You do not have to climb steps to board these buses, and there is a ramp for wheel-chair access. AATA also provides door-to-door service to eligible individuals whose disabilities prevent them from riding the regular route buses. For more information, check the Accessible services section of this site or call 734.973.6500.

What is AATA?
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority operates the local public transit bus system named TheRide. TheRide serves the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and nearby Pittsfield, Ypsilanti, and Superior townships with 27 routes. AATA also provides other transportation services for the general public, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and commuters.

Is AATA a for-profit, private company?
No. AATA was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a special-purpose unit of government. AATA is supported through local, state and federal funding, purchase of service agreements with local municipalities, and fare revenues.

AATA's revenue is a combination of local, state and federal funds. The federal funds AATA receives generally do not pay for operating expenses, such as wages, fuel, insurance, repair parts and office supplies. Operating expenses are primarily paid for by passenger fares, local funds (from the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and from Ypsilanti, Pittsfield and Superior townships) and Michigan state operating assistance.

Why does it seem like so many AATA buses are running empty?
Ridership varies greatly depending on many factors, such as the service area, time of day, day of the week, time of year and even the direction the bus is traveling. To best serve the public, AATA service needs to be consistent and comprehensive.

While a bus may be empty at the beginning or end of its route, passengers get on and off all along the way. An average of 29.6 people get on and off each AATA bus during each hour that bus operates. AATA's goal is to maintain an average of at least 20 passengers for each hour of service.

During morning rush hour, buses may be full heading into town, but can be almost empty heading out. The opposite is true in the evening. Like the road you drive on - it's congested coming into town in the morning, while the outbound lanes are nearly empty. AATA reduces service frequency during off-peak hours and continually monitors how many passengers board each hour in order to make adjustments accordingly.

Why doesn't AATA use smaller buses?
Buses are expensive - as much as $300,000 for a large bus and $250,000 for a small bus. Small buses have shorter life spans, and when used under similar circumstances, they require more repairs and generally are out of service more often than their larger counterparts. AATA must provide for peak ridership demand whenever it occurs.

We use our small buses only where they are able to accommodate the peak demand, such as Route #16. It is neither economical nor efficient to purchase and maintain a duplicate fleet of small buses to operate all off-peak service when they cannot accommodate large loads during rush hours.

How is AATA funded?
AATA's revenue is a combination of local, state and federal funds. The federal funds AATA receives generally do not pay for operating expenses, such as wages, fuel, insurance, repair parts and office supplies. Operating expenses are primarily paid for by passenger fares, local funds (from the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and from Ypsilanti, Pittsfield and Superior townships) and Michigan state operating assistance.

For nearly all capital purchases - buses, facilities and equipment - federal funding pays 80 percent of the cost, and the State of Michigan provides the remaining 20 percent. All AATA fleet buses and the AATA headquarters building were paid for with federal and state funds. AATA has to comply with a variety of federal and state regulations to be eligible to receive these funds.

AATA is audited annually, and those audits are available for public review. Auditors have consistently issued "clean" opinions on the Authority's financial statements. Additional oversight comes from AATA's Board of Directors who are appointed by the mayor of Ann Arbor with the approval of city council.

How does AATA bring tax dollars back into the community?
AATA continually pursues grants from state and federal governments for a variety of purposes. For example, AATA has used Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) grants to fund the administrative and start-up costs for the downtown go!pass program. CMAQ grants will also pay for most of the first two years of operation for a planned Subscription Service, and have paid for the downtown Link route. CMAQ grants have been used to test routes to outlying areas, such as Saline, and various routes into Ypsilanti.

AATA has also received federal research grants to work with Veridian International of Ann Arbor (formerly known as ERIM) to develop a rear-impact collision-warning system, and to install advanced operating systems on all AATA buses.

How does AATA impact the environment?
AATA has been a pioneer among transit operators nationwide in pursuing cleaner air. From the late 1980s through 1995, AATA voluntarily converted its entire fleet to a "clean diesel" system using low-sulfur diesel fuel - years ahead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency directives for federal emissions standards that require buses to meet low-sulfur levels by 2004.

In 2002, AATA became the first transit system in the Midwest to begin using ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel in all its buses. When coupled with new engine technology, AATA cuts its emissions by as much as 90 percent. Today, AATA buses are significantly cleaner than many other buses and large trucks in the area.

Nineteen new lower-emission buses were added to the AATA fleet in 2003, replacing an equal number of aging buses. This purchase, paid for with a combination of federal and state funds, completes AATA's conversion to an all-low-floor bus fleet. All AATA buses are now more easily accessible to all passengers. The buses also feature the new generation of Detroit Diesel Series 50 engines, which are California Air Resources Board-certified.

With AATA's use of ultra-low-sulfur fuel, new Series 50 engines and exhaust systems utilizing catalyzed particulate filters, the particulate matter, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are reduced by 90 percent. Nitrous oxide emissions are reduced by 10 percent. AATA also continues to retrofit its remaining buses with the new engines and particulate filters. The addition of these 19 vehicles continues AATA's long-standing commitment to preserving the environment by reducing emissions in the AATA service area. Click here for more information.

Why is downtown the best place for the central transit center?
With the street system in much of Ann Arbor radiating from downtown and the concentration of employment, services and government functions in the downtown area, downtown Ann Arbor is the largest single destination for transit trips on TheRide.

More than 5,000 people each weekday travel on an AATA bus to the Blake Transit Center (BTC). Once at the BTC, they either walk to their final destination downtown or on campus, or transfer to another bus. These factors make downtown Ann Arbor the most efficient and most central area for AATA to locate its main Ann Arbor transit center.

Although AATA has additional locations for coordinated transfers between routes (including the Ypsilanti Transit Center, Arborland, Meijer on Carpenter Road, and the VA Medical Center) this does not eliminate the need for a transit center in the central business district of Ann Arbor.

Why would an expansion of the transit center in downtown Ann Arbor be necessary?
Ridership has increased more than 30 percent since 1987, and the number of buses per hour at the Blake Transit Center has increased from 30 to 36. As AATA works to serve commuters countywide, its "AATA Strategic Plan: Destination 2010" goal for an expanded transit center in downtown Ann Arbor becomes more important.

The physical limitations of the current facility on Fourth Avenue cannot accommodate this growth. A larger, off-street facility would allow for shorter transfer distances, better sight lines, safer and more convenient multimodal connections and additional space for passengers awaiting their buses.

Why do most routes go to downtown Ann Arbor?
In nearly all U.S. cities under 400,000 population, a radial route design like Ann Arbor's is used because it distributes trips efficiently. It allows a person to go between any two points either on a direct route or with no more than one transfer between buses. The ability to travel throughout the community is very important for people who depend on transit as their primary transportation. An important mission of AATA is to provide bus service for people who don't drive, including youths, seniors, people with disabilities and low-income individuals. By using a radial route design, AATA provides the most comprehensive method for moving people throughout the community, to work, school, medical appointments, shopping and other activities.

Increasingly, the AATA bus service is being asked to help reduce the growth in traffic congestion and parking demand in Ann Arbor. This requires different service. Traffic congestion is concentrated during weekdays, particularly in peak commute hours. Frequent, direct (i.e., without transferring) service is required to induce people to choose the bus when they have the option to drive and park. Since 1993, the AATA has added a significant amount of service designed to serve this "choice" market, with nearly all of the 17 percent increase in ridership over the past 10 years coming from this group. Much of this new service does not go downtown to the Blake Transit Center.

Does AATA coordinate services with transportation providers in outlying communities?
Budget constraints required AATA to discontinue fixed-route services between Ann Arbor and its neighboring communities of Saline and Dexter. Because some passengers had become dependent upon AATA's transportation services, AATA worked with Milan Transit and the Western Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) to arrange for alternate services that assure these passengers the needed connection with AATA service.

WAVE service now connects with AATA's Route 9-Jackson buses on Jackson Road at Wagner six times a day (7:01, 9:01 and 11:01 a.m. and 2:01, 4:01 and 6:01 p.m.). Milan Transit now connects passengers traveling from Saline with AATA Route 16-Ann Arbor-Saline Road buses at the Meijer store on Oak Valley Drive.

For many years, AATA has successfully coordinated transit services for seniors and people with disabilities in Washtenaw County, including service by WAVE, Milan Transit, Northfield's Human Services (People's Express), Neighborhood Senior Services and Manchester Senior Citizens. For more information, contact AATA at 734.996.0400.

What happened to the proposed commuter subscription service?
Although AATA has already received a federal grant to introduce an innovative express bus service for commuters to Ann Arbor, a plan to begin the service was not realized in 2003 due to difficulty in leasing appropriate highway coaches to operate the service. The service would operate between two locations (possibly in the Chelsea and western Wayne County areas) and two to four destinations in Ann Arbor. After picking up passengers, the buses would run non-stop via the expressway.

Riders would sign up on a monthly, prepaid basis. The full cost is expected to be about $120.00 a month per passenger, with the possibility that employers would be willing to pay part of the cost for their employees. At this level, fares are expected to cover the entire operating cost. AATA will continue to work toward implementation of this demonstration project. If successful, the concept may provide a model that could be used in other Michigan communities experiencing growing congestion and parking shortages.

What is AATA doing to expand its park & ride lot program?
The AATA Park & Ride Lot program has grown from its first 100-space lot (which handled about 30 vehicles a day in 1990) to five lots offering a total of 1,184 spaces (which are currently being used by more than 800 vehicles a day). These lots offer free parking for commuters and are served by AATA buses. Increased use of the lots is a credit to the cooperation between AATA and area employers such as the University of Michigan.

AATA worked with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 2003 to complete construction of the transit system's fifth Park & Ride Lot. Located on the southwest side of the Miller Road exit next to M-14, the Miller Road Park & Ride Lot can accommodate 162 vehicles. The lot is located on MDOT property and construction was paid for with a combination of federal and state grants. AATA Route 12UM recently began servicing the new lot, taking passengers to downtown Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Central Campus and the U of M Medical Center.

With the State Street Commuter Lot nearing capacity and with little room for expansion, AATA collaborated with the University of Michigan to add 200 new Park & Ride spaces at the U of M Tennis Center Lot. U of M designed and paid for the construction of the new spaces, bus boarding location and a short roadway connecting the new lot with the well-established State Street Lot. The new lot is served by Route 36-Wolverine Tower Shuttle. An average of 326 vehicles a day (equivalent to an entire parking structure on Central Campus) park at the State Street and Tennis Center Lots, which results in more than 400 boardings each day.

With several lots located within Ann Arbor, AATA is now turning its attention to the next Park & Ride phase - developing lots to intercept commuter traffic before it reaches the city. AATA has hired a consultant to develop a comprehensive, 20-year plan to detail the location, size and projected cost of five to ten Park & Ride lots surrounding the city. The plan will detail transit services needed for each lot, including route, frequency, span of service, projected ridership, change in projected ridership over time, and annual cost. Funding is not currently available to operate this expanded service. The consultant will lead an effort to inform and involve public officials, interest groups and members of the general public in order to create a plan with broad community support.